Google I/O Image Hints At Redesigned Android Status Bar

Based on what we’ve seen and heard so far, it seems that Google has been slowly introducing a host of changes to its Android UI over the past months, and more of that is expected to take place with future builds of Android and could debut as soon as Google I/O, which is kicking off next week for those who haven’t been following the news.

That being said, one particular astute Android fan on Reddit noticed something interesting on the Google I/O website. Under the header, “Put the conference in your pocket” which provides a link to the Google I/O 2014 app, it shows a photo of the Nexus 5. Upon first glance there’s really nothing to shout about, but upon closer look, you will realize that the icons in the status bar along with its font appears to be slightly different.

In a comparison image put together by the Reddit user who spotted the differences, you can see some subtle changes. For starters, it appears that the WiFi icon has been made slightly smaller. The signal bars to denote cellular strength have been spaced apart a bit more, and the battery indicator has been made noticeably smaller too. The font for the clock, which reads 4:40 (perhaps to indicate Android 4.4 KitKat) also appears to be slightly thicker, although it could be our eyes playing tricks on us.

Now we know that Google has been busy redesigning Android. There has been talks about a design language Google is using called Quantum Paper that will unify the design across platforms. The Android 4.4.3 update introduced a redesign dialer, and the latest Google+ update also introduced a design similar to that of the dialer app. In any case it could be that we’re reading too much into this, but do check back with us next week during Google I/O for the details.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Cellphones
Tags: Android, Google, google i/o 2014, google io